Norrköping

Norrköping ([ˈnɔrːˈɕøːpɪŋ] [NOR-shur-pin]) is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest municipality.

The city is situated by the mouth of the river Motala ström, at Bråviken, an inlet of the Baltic Sea. Water power from the Motala ström and the good harbour were factors that facilitated the rapid growth of this once industrial city, known for its textile industry. It has several nicknames such as: "Sweden's Manchester", "Peking" and "Surbullestan" (Surbulle [sour bun] was a local nickname for the textile workers, and stan is short for Staden, which means The City or The Town in Swedish).

History

The city has medieval foundations by settlers around the Norrköping twin city with Linköping Motala stream estuary, who used the falls and rapids to power their mills. The stream was also full of fish such as salmon. Exact dates are uncertain, but there are mentions of a church in the 12th century. It was dedicated to Saint Olaf, Norway's patron.

IFK Norrköping

Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Norrköping, also known simply as IFK Norrköping, is a Swedish professional football club based in Norrköping. The club is affiliated to Östergötlands Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Nya Parken. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are blue and white. Formed on 29 May 1897, the club have won thirteen national championship titles and six national cup titles.

The club is currently playing in Allsvenskan, where the season lasts from April to October. The club first won Allsvenskan in 1943. IFK Norrköping were most successful during the 1940s, when they won five Swedish championships and two Svenska Cupen titles under the Hungarian coach Lajos Czeizler and with the players like Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm.

IFK Norrköping are currently the defending champions after winning the 2015 Allsvenskan, which also gave them a spot in the second qualification round of 2016–17 UEFA Champions League.

History

IFK Norrköping dominated Swedish football in the post war era and won the first division 11 times in 20 glorious years culminating in the league triumph of 1963. It took the club another 26 years before adding championship title number 12 to the trophy cabinet.